Terracotta roundel featuring an elephant with two mahouts (riders) on its back; the elephant and the two figurines are briefly sketched but efficiently rendered. One small perforation in the upper semi-circle of the roundel would suggest its use suspended.

Elephants and their riders were often portrayed during the early Islamic period. One of the best examples is provided by our magnificent Seljuq glazed sculptural model which, with its richly decorated howdah and ceremonial harnesses, portrays in full the flavour of an epoch (LO.655).